As a response to one of the reviews.the reason I might be rushing a little through this is because I didn't plan this fic to be very long.I was going to make it a one shot, most of it being a death scene, you know? But I changed my mind half-way because I want to develop the characters and have those nice, fluffy moments. Lol. But I'm still sorry if I'm moving too fast or skipping around too much. The version of the true story I heard wasn't very detailed, so if the fic is inconsistent, my apologies again.

Uggh.I almost gave up on this fic. This one girl kept telling me the plot is too predictable and that it bites off of 'A Walk to Remember'. I don't know. I've never watched it because I have this thing against Mandy Moore. Haha.I don't know why. But I ignored her and went and wrote this chapter anyway just to spite her. Haha. But I still feel kinda depressed. Or maybe it's because I haven't slept in the last 30 hours. O.o;; *sigh*

Chapter 4

"Yugi! MOVE IT!" shouted an agitated, green-haired young man, with the number 32 across his back. Wednesday football practice had barely begun and Yugi was already getting in the way.
"Sorry," muttered Yugi, doing his best to move out of the way while trying to hold back a body-wracking coughing fit. Shit. Why now? Couldn't it wait for after school?! He covered his hands with his mouth, coughing until it felt like his lungs were on fire. And there, splattered on his hands were flecks of crimson blood.
"I SAID MOVE!" the teen cried in frustration, violently shoving Yugi to the side as he dodged another player and threw the ball to through the goal posts.
Yugi landed with a thud, causing the world to start spinning in a blur of green and sky blue. The tri-color haired youth remained sprawled on the ground, catching his breath. Maybe his grandpa was right.he _was_ pushing himself too hard. Dr. Kotana had repeatly suggested Yugi stay at the hospital under supervised care, but he had declined countless times, assuring the doctor he felt fine. Which he did, most of the time. He'd rather be at school with his friend anyway, than stay cooped up in some hospital room.
Yami and Bakura were currently on the other side of the field, but did not fail to see the green-haired teen's actions. Bakura gave an annoyed grunt, and left the matter alone. But Yami was trembling with anger. "HEY! UNDERWOOD! Get your ass over here!" Yami shouted crossly as he ran across the grass to where his look-a-like sat on the ground.
"Yugi, you don't look so good. Maybe you should sit out for the rest of the period," Yami suggested, gently lifting Yugi into a sitting posistion.
Weevil Underwood walked over to where a very irate quarterback was motioning to him. "What's up, Yami?" He asked, stopping to stare at Yugi's small, crumpled form. Geez. Weevil just didn't get why Yugi was still on the team. He had overheard Bakura and Yami discussing their little plan on the bus on Monday. Yet, here Yugi was anyway, ruining a perfect play.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?" Yami snarled, indicating Yugi.
"He was in the way! What's the big deal?" Weevil asked glaringly. He really didn't see why Yami was so cross.
"What's the big deal!?" Yami practically shouted, getting to his feet, "Yugi has-"
Yugi tugged on Yami's pants and shook his head. He didn't want anybody to know. He didn't want to be treated specially because of it, nor did he want people to feel sorry for him or give him any pity. It was HIS problem, and it was better not to have other people know.
Yami's facial expression softened and he gave a defeated sigh at the sight of those pleading, violet eyes.
Weevil saw this and smirked, saying, "Oh. I see how it is. Soft spot for Motou, eh, Yami? You _fag_."
Yami growled, losing his patience, plowing his fist into Weevil's face.
"Ow! You BASTARD!" Weevil yelled, his hand covering his bleeding nose.

Yami rubbed his fist tentatively and was about to do more damage, when the coach blew his whistle, yelling "Yami! IN MY OFFICE! NOW!"
"It was worth it," spat Yami, giving Weevil a final glare before heading off towards the small room that was the Coach's personal "office."
Yugi watched in awe as Yami left, feeling a mixture of emotions; gratitude, happiness, and another feeling. Maybe, just maybe, this was a sign that Yami was willing to be his friend? The taller of the two obviously cared enough to stand up for the smaller boy, and even got into trouble because of it. Yugi's heart began to beat faster and some color came back to his pale face.

***

"Yami.care to explain why you just clobbered Underwood?" Coach Wells prompted, leaning back in his seat.
"No," Yami said evenly, slouching back in the wooden chair.
"Two fights in one week isn't good, Yami."
"This doesn't count as a fight!" the tri-colored hair teen denied, "I was.just."
"Just?"
"He hit Yugi." Yami finally admitted, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Oh?" Coach Wells sat up in interest, "So you and the kid are getting along well?"
Yami made a face, saying, "He's a dork."
The football coach sighed. "Very well. I'll let this one slide because it was for Yugi's sake. But no more hitting other people, ok?"
"I can't make any promises," Yami said coolly, getting up and exiting the small office.
"Geez. Kids these days." Coach Wells snorted.

***

Once again, after school, Bakura found himself in the library with Mr. Sensitivity. A.k.a. Ryou. But this time, he had stupidly forgot his headphones at home, and was forced to entertain himself by staring intently at the smaller boy who was currently reading a book. But staring wasn't so bad since Bakura found Ryou extremely attractive. But he'd be damned if he ever admitted it. That, however, was not important at the time because the older white-haired teen was about to go insane from the constant ticking of the clock and the flipping of pages.
After agonizing minutes of complete boredom, Bakura quickly snatched the book out of Ryou's hands.
"Hey!" Ryou protested, grabbing at the said book.
"Harry Potter?" Bakura questioned, reading the title.
"Well, I happen to find it interesting." Ryou responded, slightly embarrassed.
"Uh-huh. I see." Bakura said in a sarcastic voice. "Why don't we do something MORE interesting."
"Like?" Ryou said impatiently.
"If you come with me, you'll see," Bakura said mysteriously, a smirk playing on his handsome features.
"But I have homework to do!" Ryou protested.
"Fine. Then you can say good-bye to Harry Potter!" Bakura promptly got up and headed towards the exit.
"Hey!" Ryou called. "Wait!" Quickly, he gathered his stuff and followed Bakura out the door.
Bakura headed towards where his BMW was parked outside. "Let's go take a drive."
Ryou looked uncertainly at the silver car, and then at its owner. "Do you have a liscence?"
"What do you think?"
"Do you? I don't want to die in a blazing car accident," Ryou informed Bakura.
"You won't die, I promise. Get in," Bakura coaxed, going to the passenger side of the car and opening the door for Ryou. "Trust me."
Ryou hesitated before getting in and closing the door, fastening his seatbelt. He did trust Bakura. Something inside him told him that he could be at ease with the white-haired teen. "So where are we going?"
"McDonalds. I feel like ice cream."
Ryou raised an eyebrow at his companion. "Ice cream in the middle of winter?"
"Yep," Bakura said with a grin, starting up the car and pulling out of the parking lot. "I like to live on the wild side."

***
"Yami.you really didn't have to." Yugi said on his way home with Yami. With each foot step, Yugi grew more and more tired. The result of an exhausting day, right? Nothing to worry about.But he couldn't let himself look weak, not while Yami was there. Yugi forced himself to act happy and alert, but he really felt like taking a nice, long nap. He shook his head from left to right. No! The doctor's words were getting to him. A week was all he had left to live? That was ridiculous. He felt fine up until today. And besides, sometimes doctors were wrong. His mother lived a full month after her expected time was up. Why shouldn't he be the same?
Yami looked at Yugi. Something seemed to be on his mind. Was it because of the way he had acted today? Why did he hit Weevil, anyway? Yami tried to convince himself that he just acted on the spur of the moment. But he knew that wasn't the real reason. Yami had been boiling with rage when he saw the pained look on Yugi's face. And he had this strong instinct to protect the delicate boy. And Yami knew it was not out of simple courtesy. And it wasn't because he was forced to, either. It was something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Yami.I wanted to say thank you." Yugi's soft voice interrupted Yami's thoughts and Yami had to blink a couple times before responding.
"No problem, Yugi."
"Can.can I consider you.as a friend?" Yugi asked shyly, looking away from Yami's face.
"Uhh.Sure." Yami said, running a hand through his hair. A friend, huh?
Yugi smiled happily, his eyes becoming shiny with joy. Yami smiled too, happy that he had made Yugi smile.
Yami was his friend! But a part of him was disappointed that he was _just_ a friend and nothing more. Yugi continued walking, coughing lightly every now and then. To Yugi, the world around him suddenly seemed to become dimmer and dimmer, his vision obscured by darkness. Odd, he thought, is it going to rain? [my poor, poor boy.that's not the reason it's getting darker.]
Yami remained silent, thinking about nothing in particular, just enjoying the breeze. Until Yugi started to lag behind.
"Yugi? Come on, if you don't hurry up, we'll miss Hamtaro," Yami teased. But the grin left his face when he saw Yugi sway to the left and collapse onto the pavement, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

"YUGI!" Yami shouted, running over to the unconscious boy. "Oh my god." He whispered, shaking the limp boy in his arms. "Yugi! YUGI! SHIT!"

Hahaha.I'm sorry about the cliffie. Mom's screaming at me to stop. Lol. Please review. Thanks. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. ~*~ lilhammygrl~*~